Would you recommend a Petri 7s?

[atelier7]

Hi,

just wondering if any of you have used or know much about the Petri 7s II?
Only rangefinder i've used is the minolta 7s.

 

[DougK]

I think Karen Nakamura has a short write-up of this camera on her website (http://www.photoethnography.com). If I remember correctly, she seemed very positive about it.

 

[Oldprof]

My wife had a Petri 7s for a short time in the 1970s. Frankly, I didn't like it very much. The body felt flimsy and the film transport mechanism started skipping, resulting in overlapping frames. I don't think the build quality of the 7s was as solid as some earlier Petri rangefinders. The lens was sharp, but its color rendition was warmer than I like (very noticeable in the slides I took with this camera). Finally, the large circular selenium cell around the lens gave inflated readings, which resulted in underexposed pictures. I normally don't bash cameras, but this one did not perform well for me.

 

[Doug]

I agree with Oldprof; it's a lesser breed. But the lens is good! I've inherited one from my Dad, so I got it cleaned up and put a roll of film through it. I ignored the meter as unreliable, but its f/1.8 lens is sharp. Here's a sample (which inexplicably has received no comments!) from my RFF Gallery... http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1831/sort/1/size/medium/cat/500/page/

 

[atelier7]

thanks everyone for your input.
the one i was looking to bid for had a 2.8 not 1.8 lens.
anyhow, the price is now over AUD$100 for the whole lot including telephoto and wide angle.
way out of my budget.

 

[John Robertson]

It ain't worth that!!! Also Aux Tele and W/A lenses are usually nothing to write home about.
My 7S is now very dead, yes the 1.8 lens was quite good, but the wind mechanism was very poorly done.

 

[atelier7]

thanks john. unfortunately had severe case of 'gas' and made that last bid and won. or should i say lost! (is gas supposed to be rational? cos i don't understand my decision to bid for it still.)

i got the camera and it's almost mint. but i can see why that's the case.
it makes so much noise when u wind the lever and the whole camera just feels really flimsy.
probably never used.

any offers to trade out there?

 

[Jon Goodman]

Well....I have two of these. One is virtually new. Really. The case shows a mark or two from kicking around my house, but I've never used the camera. Even has the Petri filter. The other one has been used to pieces, and still takes great pictures. I really can't say anything bad about mine. And...I really like the match needle metering. Sort of like the Lynx 14, but vertical.
Jon

 

[atelier7]

thanks jon, you've given me some hope!

when i have time (cramming for exams) i'll take it out for a spin and see how the shots turn out. I don't know about yours but mine is really noisy though!

i've really got to stop buying cameras faster than i can test them. i've got a fed 2b and zorki 4k in the mail. haven't even tried out my wooden zero 135 pinhole camera yet!

 

[John Robertson]

Use it! The lens will be good, just use it carefully, don't overstress the wind and you'll be OK.

 

[atelier7]

yah, with the noisy winder... is there something I could do about it? Will the miracle WB40 work?

I find it difficult to just snap away say in the streets without feeling like i'm intruding on other people. hence, its mostly buildings that i've attempted to take photos of.
With the "noise" the winder makes, it makes me even more conscious! not to mention people around me!

 

[titrisol]

I think this one summarizes the whole deal.
The rangefinder is fine, and with the black tape fix is bright, the lens is good... shrap and contrasty
But the film transport mechanism is short to be junk.

The auxiliary lenses are fun, they have a 52mm screw so I have mounted those on Nikon lenses and the results are very interesting to say the least. With the WA you have some unsharp ares in the corners but that is ok. Together with a 105 mm it makes a very satisfactory soft-focus lens for portriture.

It ain't worth that!!! Also Aux Tele and W/A lenses are usually nothing to write home about.
My 7S is now very dead, yes the 1.8 lens was quite good, but the wind mechanism was very poorly done.

 

[reagan]

Just a late throw in on this thread - A Petri 7s is sitting in an Arts and Crafts Shop not far from my home. It's got a few dings in it but winds and fires... seems like I even checked to see if the meter had life and does. I'd never vouch for the accuracy of any of it, but the tag on it was $15. I'm not interested in it myself, but if one of you guys is interested in it for parts or whatever, PM me and I'd be glad to go back and see if it's still there.